Duck Breed Focus - Pekin

[N F C]

Bored like this...

LOL, that's what I like about your duck folks...you just plain enjoy them so much!

I always look forward to pics and question.. while your waiting go to the stickies and read read read. lol and also the learning center lots of great info.

I've read the articles in the LC several times and the stickies a couple...I'll be reading them and more a lot over the next few months.

If you haven't, I can remember who has, check out the baby book in my signature. It chronicles my first brooding up to mostly feathered with lots of cute pics along the way.

Thanks TD, I'll take a look at your baby book.

 

[MandyJ]

I have 2 Pekin ducks, both female and noisy. They are free ranging. Unfortunately, I can't touch them! They were given to me back in June. They had never been fooled with, so now if I catch them I have to use a bird net, very stressful for both the ducks and me. Any tips on how to make these birds tame? They are put into their enclosure each night, they follow me in but won't get within my reach. I have tried putting their treat, peas, in my hand to entice them in, but no doing!

I have the ducks as a fun thing to do. They are a hoot to watch! Always doing something comical!

My little ladies lay one egg/day each! We end up giving eggs away. Since they are unfertilized (no drake) it is so much easier. I have one duck that quite often lays a double yoked egg, it will be HUGE!

Thanks for posting things about ducks, I always find out something new!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have 2 Pekin ducks, both female and noisy. They are free ranging. Unfortunately, I can't touch them! They were given to me back in June. They had never been fooled with, so now if I catch them I have to use a bird net, very stressful for both the ducks and me. Any tips on how to make these birds tame? They are put into their enclosure each night, they follow me in but won't get within my reach. I have tried putting their treat, peas, in my hand to entice them in, but no doing!

I have the ducks as a fun thing to do. They are a hoot to watch! Always doing something comical!

My little ladies lay one egg/day each! We end up giving eggs away. Since they are unfertilized (no drake) it is so much easier. I have one duck that quite often lays a double yoked egg, it will be HUGE!

Thanks for posting things about ducks, I always find out something new!

Herding them into their pen and into their house would be less stressful,I do this when I have to pick up one of my Muscovy's or geese once I herd them inside it is much easier to walk them into a corner and pick them up. ducks learn to herd pretty fast. Just always remember to do anything with them slowly. you may win them over eventually with treats just start out by tossing them out to them then closing the gap slowly till they are close enough to eat out of your hand, it may take several months to accomplish but not using the net to catch them may help them warm up quicker too. Pekins are awesome egg layers..

 

[MandyJ]

Herding them into their pen and into their house would be less stressful,I do this when I have to pick up one of my Muscovy's or geese once I herd them inside it is much easier to walk them into a corner and pick them up. ducks learn to herd pretty fast. Just always remember to do anything with them slowly. you may win them over eventually with treats just start out by tossing them out to them then closing the gap slowly till they are close enough to eat out of your hand, it may take several months to accomplish but not using the net to catch them may help them warm up quicker too. Pekins are awesome egg layers..

I have herded them, but mostly they show me where they want to go! To their food! I agree that herding them is less stressful but sometimes I need to be able to get ahold of them. Checking feet, injuries, etc.

I have tried to win them over with treats, peas, they love them, as long as I throw them in the water or on the ground. If I offer the peas in my hand they scream and run away. I have been trying this for 6 months! I am about to think they don't like me!

Will they continue to lay through the winter? We are having to give the eggs away, we can't eat that many! But they sure are good!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have herded them, but mostly they show me where they want to go! To their food! I agree that herding them is less stressful but sometimes I need to be able to get ahold of them. Checking feet, injuries, etc.

I have tried to win them over with treats, peas, they love them, as long as I throw them in the water or on the ground. If I offer the peas in my hand they scream and run away. I have been trying this for 6 months! I am about to think they don't like me!

Will they continue to lay through the winter? We are having to give the eggs away, we can't eat that many! But they sure are good!

Do you keep their food close to where they sleep? inside their pen? one way to get them too is keep feed inside a fenced area then you walk in and close the gate. . I know what your saying I still use this same tactic if I need to check one for foot problems or injuries It isn't something that happens over night but if your consistent they will eventually under stand what your wanting. My girls are still upset with me because I just had to pick up each one 6 and clip one of their wings, so they wouldn't fly off. They hold a grudge for quit sometime lol

 

[MandyJ]

Do you keep their food close to where they sleep? inside their pen? one way to get them too is keep feed inside a fenced area then you walk in and close the gate. . I know what your saying I still use this same tactic if I need to check one for foot problems or injuries It isn't something that happens over night but if your consistent they will eventually under stand what your wanting. My girls are still upset with me because I just had to pick up each one 6 and clip one of their wings, so they wouldn't fly off. They hold a grudge for quit sometime lol

Yes, their food is with them where they sleep. But I put it in with them when they go to bed, around 5:30 pm, then take it out before I go to bed around 11 pm. I am afraid that if I leave the feed with them overnight that opossums or other animals will get in there. We have already had to kill 2 opossums in the pen. I have since beefed up the pen so they can't get in. But I am afraid to chance it. If I leave the feed down during the day, the other animals, squirrels and other birds make a mess in the pen and waste food.

Clip wings? Mine can't fly. I clipped a mallard that I had, but I don't do the Pekin wings. Should I?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes, their food is with them where they sleep. But I put it in with them when they go to bed, around 5:30 pm, then take it out before I go to bed around 11 pm. I am afraid that if I leave the feed with them overnight that opossums or other animals will get in there. We have already had to kill 2 opossums in the pen. I have since beefed up the pen so they can't get in. But I am afraid to chance it. If I leave the feed down during the day, the other animals, squirrels and other birds make a mess in the pen and waste food.

Clip wings? Mine can't fly. I clipped a mallard that I had, but I don't do the Pekin wings. Should I?

No you don't have to clip your Pekin's wings, I was just using my experience with mine to let you know your not alone ducks just don't care much for being handled. So your ducks don't have feed down during the day? Egg layers needs lots of nutrients to stay healthy and keep those eggs coming. I put all food away when I put mine up before dark.I do leave feed out for mine during the day though. If squirrels can get inside your pen so can weasels and mink. Which are predators. Opossums are usually after eggs. and feed.

 

[MandyJ]

No you don't have to clip your Pekin's wings, I was just using my experience with mine to let you know your not alone ducks just don't care much for being handled. So your ducks don't have feed down during the day? Egg layers needs lots of nutrients to stay healthy and keep those eggs coming. I put all food away when I put mine up before dark.I do leave feed out for mine during the day though. If squirrels can get inside your pen so can weasels and mink. Which are predators. Opossums are usually after eggs. and feed.

We do not have weasels and mink in Central Texas only, opossums, coons, and skunks. The squirrels get the feed during the day as I leave the pen open for the ducks during the day. So...maybe I need to reconsider what am doing. The ducks seem happy. Along with their bugs and frogs (yum) they get their most favorite treat, peas, in their clean kiddie pool water around noon then are put up with feed at night. I figured they were getting enough food. Shows you what I know, LOL!

Thanks!

 

[MandyJ]

If you haven't, I can remember who has, check out the baby book in my signature. It chronicles my first brooding up to mostly feathered with lots of cute pics along the way.

What breed of duck is the black one? It looks like a black pekin.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We do not have weasels and mink in Central Texas only, opossums, coons, and skunks. The squirrels get the feed during the day as I leave the pen open for the ducks during the day. So...maybe I need to reconsider what am doing. The ducks seem happy. Along with their bugs and frogs (yum) they get their most favorite treat, peas, in their clean kiddie pool water around noon then are put up with feed at night. I figured they were getting enough food. Shows you what I know, LOL!

Thanks!

If your are still able to forage for their extra food then they may be okay with out feed during the day. I have just always left feed out during daylight because it takes alot to make an egg and I just like to know my egg layers are able to eat anytime they want too. You don't have mink and weasel in Texas?? wow how'd that happen lol